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Of Flesh & Bone #4.5
The Heir & the Spare
DELUXE EDITION—featuring stunning sprayed edges!
From New York Times bestselling author Harper L. Woods comes The Heir & the Spare, a never-before-published novella in the Of Flesh & Bone series!
SPOILER WARNING: This book is overflowing with spoilers and should only be read after devouring What Sleeps Within the Cove.
Once, I’d spent my life in the tunnels beneath the mountains. Now, I’m bound to a husband I didn’t want.
My mother waited centuries to find me on the other side of the Veil of Flesh and Bone where the Lunar Witches hid me. She sent her greatest weapon, the God of the Dead, when the Veil finally fell.
But I never expected to love his human mate, Estrella, the way I did–to feel the sisterly bond between us as if it had never been interrupted in our lifetimes spent apart since a rogue witch took her away.
But Mab sees love as a weakness, and she uses my bond with Estrella to manipulate me into a betrothal I never desired.
This marriage is a cage, a means of control that goes against everything within me.
But when Estrella is banished into Tartarus, I am left no choice but to journey to the Summer Court and take my place as a bride and a queen.
No matter what I leave behind.
Of Flesh & Bone Reading Order:
What Lies Beyond the Veil
What Hunts Inside the Shadows
What Lurks Between the Fates
What Sleeps Within the Cove
The Heir & The Spare
What Roams Beneath the Stars
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
From New York Times bestselling author Harper L. Woods comes The Heir & the Spare, a never-before-published novella in the Of Flesh & Bone series!
SPOILER WARNING: This book is overflowing with spoilers and should only be read after devouring What Sleeps Within the Cove.
Once, I’d spent my life in the tunnels beneath the mountains. Now, I’m bound to a husband I didn’t want.
My mother waited centuries to find me on the other side of the Veil of Flesh and Bone where the Lunar Witches hid me. She sent her greatest weapon, the God of the Dead, when the Veil finally fell.
But I never expected to love his human mate, Estrella, the way I did–to feel the sisterly bond between us as if it had never been interrupted in our lifetimes spent apart since a rogue witch took her away.
But Mab sees love as a weakness, and she uses my bond with Estrella to manipulate me into a betrothal I never desired.
This marriage is a cage, a means of control that goes against everything within me.
But when Estrella is banished into Tartarus, I am left no choice but to journey to the Summer Court and take my place as a bride and a queen.
No matter what I leave behind.
Of Flesh & Bone Reading Order:
What Lies Beyond the Veil
What Hunts Inside the Shadows
What Lurks Between the Fates
What Sleeps Within the Cove
The Heir & The Spare
What Roams Beneath the Stars
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2026
277 people are currently reading
10341 people want to read
About the author
Harper L. Woods
16 books5,806 followersHarper L Woods A pseudonym used by Adelaide Forrest. Harper L. Woods is the fantasy romance pen name for USA Today Bestselling dark romance author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
February 25, 2026
This Novella features Fallon, who I thought was underrepresented in the previous 4 books. This fills the gaps. Her travels with Etan towards the Summer Court allows her to come into her own and start to realize her future potential. That's all I will say as to offer no spoilers. It's going to be a long wait till 7/27 for the next and final book in this series.
March 5, 2026
**𝔄ℜℭ ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴** 𝔗𝔥𝔢 ℌ𝔢𝔦𝔯 & 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔖𝔭𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔟𝔶 ℌ𝔞𝔯𝔭𝔢𝔯 𝔏. 𝔚𝔬𝔬𝔡𝔰 (𝔒𝔣 𝔉𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔥 & 𝔅𝔬𝔫𝔢, #4.5)
Release Date: February 3, 2026
4.5⭐️4🌶
This is an interesting little side story in the Of Flesh & Bone series. This was a very enjoyable little story that takes places partially in the same timeline as What Sleeps Within the Cove, and probably slightly after. It's a nice bridge into novel #5. I feel like this story will be essential for (what I'm thinking) is the last book in the series. This story centers around Fallon, Estrella's adoptive sister, and Eton who is second in command at the summer court.
Minor Spoiler's Ahead:
Fallon has been trying to survive in her birth mother Queen Mab's court, but she just isn't bloodthirsty or ruthless enough for her mother. She's spent her entire life (and past lives) with humans and learning magic with a coven of witches, and has no interest in becoming queen or learning court politics. However, if Mab doesn't get her way, she will simply torture Fallon into complying.
Eton is second in command at the Summer Court, and he grew up with Mab. He's seen her go from a sweet young woman, then gain the crown that turned her into the evil monster she is now. She knows that if she doesn't get Fallon out of her clutches, that she will turn into one of the many corpses littering Mab's land. Plus, he has also started to like Fallon. What better way to get her away from Mab, then to suggest she marry into the Summer Court?
This was a fun and fast little novella that will, hopefully, launch us right into the final book.
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Arranged Marriage
🍁Shadow Daddy
🍁Humans vs. Fae vs. Gods
🍁Evil Queen
🍁Touch-her-and-you-die vibes
🍁Hidden Powers
🍁One bed trope
TW:
✨Violence/torture (very graphic)
✨Forced marriage
✨Forced affection
✨Betrayal/Hidden identity
✨Adult Language
✨Sexual content (very much)
Release Date: February 3, 2026
4.5⭐️4🌶
This is an interesting little side story in the Of Flesh & Bone series. This was a very enjoyable little story that takes places partially in the same timeline as What Sleeps Within the Cove, and probably slightly after. It's a nice bridge into novel #5. I feel like this story will be essential for (what I'm thinking) is the last book in the series. This story centers around Fallon, Estrella's adoptive sister, and Eton who is second in command at the summer court.
Minor Spoiler's Ahead:
Fallon has been trying to survive in her birth mother Queen Mab's court, but she just isn't bloodthirsty or ruthless enough for her mother. She's spent her entire life (and past lives) with humans and learning magic with a coven of witches, and has no interest in becoming queen or learning court politics. However, if Mab doesn't get her way, she will simply torture Fallon into complying.
Eton is second in command at the Summer Court, and he grew up with Mab. He's seen her go from a sweet young woman, then gain the crown that turned her into the evil monster she is now. She knows that if she doesn't get Fallon out of her clutches, that she will turn into one of the many corpses littering Mab's land. Plus, he has also started to like Fallon. What better way to get her away from Mab, then to suggest she marry into the Summer Court?
This was a fun and fast little novella that will, hopefully, launch us right into the final book.
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Arranged Marriage
🍁Shadow Daddy
🍁Humans vs. Fae vs. Gods
🍁Evil Queen
🍁Touch-her-and-you-die vibes
🍁Hidden Powers
🍁One bed trope
TW:
✨Violence/torture (very graphic)
✨Forced marriage
✨Forced affection
✨Betrayal/Hidden identity
✨Adult Language
✨Sexual content (very much)
February 25, 2026
This novella is the perfect addition to the Of Flesh & Bones series! I loved getting to know more about Fallon's backstory and watch her come into her own. It was interesting to get Etan's perspective as a newer character as well.
Plus the bath springs ritual at the end was *chef's kiss* 🥵😍
Plus the bath springs ritual at the end was *chef's kiss* 🥵😍
March 2, 2026
“Being trapped in Tar Mesa with Mab meant I had only exchanged one prison for another, and I was so tired of cages. I wanted to live a life I chose without fear of having it ripped away from me.”
Poor Fallon going from one prison to another and then what feels like another.
Mab, her evil mother has been torturing her to figure out what her magic is.
She then gets manipulated to a fixed marriage. Not her mate, not someone she loves.
This is a short novella on how Fallon became the Summer Courts Queen and her journey there.
Poor Fallon going from one prison to another and then what feels like another.
Mab, her evil mother has been torturing her to figure out what her magic is.
She then gets manipulated to a fixed marriage. Not her mate, not someone she loves.
This is a short novella on how Fallon became the Summer Courts Queen and her journey there.
March 18, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up
February 4, 2026
This novella is a fantastic way to get more insight into Fallon and her journey during What Sleeps Within the Cove. The Heir & the Spare centers around Fallon (Maeve) the lost princess and Etan the heir to the summer court. The first half of the novella takes place during key moments from What Sleeps Within the Cove with a mix of Fallon and Etan's pov, while the second half takes place once Fallon leaves the shadow court.
From the start Fallon and Etan seem to have a strong connection. Their chemistry and banter was so strong and added so much to their characters. I loved seeing these new interactions and a few very important moments from the series in their pov. I loved getting additional context and insight into these important characters. My favorite part of this novella would have to be Fallon's growth and development. At this point she is the closest she's ever been to being free and even though this was a forced betrothal to Etan, she slowly begins to trust him once finding out he is no ally to Mab. I loved how their relationship developed and after that ending I'm very curious to see how things will play out in the fifth book. Especially with her magic!
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for an advanced copy!
From the start Fallon and Etan seem to have a strong connection. Their chemistry and banter was so strong and added so much to their characters. I loved seeing these new interactions and a few very important moments from the series in their pov. I loved getting additional context and insight into these important characters. My favorite part of this novella would have to be Fallon's growth and development. At this point she is the closest she's ever been to being free and even though this was a forced betrothal to Etan, she slowly begins to trust him once finding out he is no ally to Mab. I loved how their relationship developed and after that ending I'm very curious to see how things will play out in the fifth book. Especially with her magic!
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for an advanced copy!
December 8, 2025
The Heir & The Spare gives us the POV from Fallon(Maeve) the lost princess of the shadow court, and Etan, a summer fae who is now her betrothed.
The chemistry between the two of them was perfection. I absolutely loved being able to reread a few pivotal moments from the series from their points of view, and it really tied it all up for me.
Please only read if you have read the first 4 books of the Flesh & Bone series since there are major spoilers in this book.
As always, thank you Bramble and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early. It was such a great read and I can’t wait for What Roams Beneath the Stars.
The chemistry between the two of them was perfection. I absolutely loved being able to reread a few pivotal moments from the series from their points of view, and it really tied it all up for me.
Please only read if you have read the first 4 books of the Flesh & Bone series since there are major spoilers in this book.
As always, thank you Bramble and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early. It was such a great read and I can’t wait for What Roams Beneath the Stars.
February 6, 2026
**DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST FOUR BOOKS INTHE SERIES**
Thank you Harper and Tor/Bramble for the ARC! This continues to be one of my favorite series to date!
Update 2/6: I just did a reread with an ALC, and I'm here to say the audiobook is also fantastic! I really liked both narrators a lot, and I think this story is one that works really well as an audiobook. The pacing issues I had with it feel less jarring when listening to it, so if you're concerned about that, definitely try the audiobook! I listened to it at 2.2 speed, so it was on the slower side of narration for me, but speeding it up didn't take anything away from the story for me!
This is a weird one due to the pacing and structure. This book diverts us from the main story, giving us Fallon's POV. The first half of the novella is reliving key events of What Sleeps Within the Cove in disjointed chunks from Fallon and Etan's POV, and the second half is what's happening concurrently with Estrella's POV. I really enjoyed the new POVs and I'm SUPER interested to see how it plays out for book 5--this is definitely a "bridge" book more so than a "let's continue the story" book, but....it's also a novella.
I do wish we had maybe divided this up more clearly in terms of a Part 1/Part 2 of when events were happening, or found a way to connect the chapters a little more fluidly. It feels like we get 2-3 chapters that tie into a specific event in Cove and then there's a time jump to the next major event without a real bridge between them. I would have liked a little more fluidity, but also recognize that would have been difficult without basically rewriting all of Cove from the new POVs.
Overall I'm really pumped for book 5 and can't wait to see where the rest of the story goes!
Thank you Harper and Tor/Bramble for the ARC! This continues to be one of my favorite series to date!
Update 2/6: I just did a reread with an ALC, and I'm here to say the audiobook is also fantastic! I really liked both narrators a lot, and I think this story is one that works really well as an audiobook. The pacing issues I had with it feel less jarring when listening to it, so if you're concerned about that, definitely try the audiobook! I listened to it at 2.2 speed, so it was on the slower side of narration for me, but speeding it up didn't take anything away from the story for me!
This is a weird one due to the pacing and structure. This book diverts us from the main story, giving us Fallon's POV. The first half of the novella is reliving key events of What Sleeps Within the Cove in disjointed chunks from Fallon and Etan's POV, and the second half is what's happening concurrently with Estrella's POV. I really enjoyed the new POVs and I'm SUPER interested to see how it plays out for book 5--this is definitely a "bridge" book more so than a "let's continue the story" book, but....it's also a novella.
I do wish we had maybe divided this up more clearly in terms of a Part 1/Part 2 of when events were happening, or found a way to connect the chapters a little more fluidly. It feels like we get 2-3 chapters that tie into a specific event in Cove and then there's a time jump to the next major event without a real bridge between them. I would have liked a little more fluidity, but also recognize that would have been difficult without basically rewriting all of Cove from the new POVs.
Overall I'm really pumped for book 5 and can't wait to see where the rest of the story goes!
February 4, 2026
• POV: 1st Person / Dual
• Audiobook Narration Rating: 4.25 stars!!
• Book Content Rating: 3 stars!!
• Content Thought:
I went into this ALC fully aware that it’s a novella meant to be read after book four in the series, and I haven’t read any of the previous books just yet.
Surprisingly, I didn’t feel as lost as I thought I would be. The author did a good job including enough information so new readers can still follow along without constantly feeling like they’re missing critical information. That alone made this a better experience than I anticipated.
The story itself was decent, though very predictable. I could see most of the beats coming well before they happened, which took away some of the heart of the journey.
Even with that, it did make me curious about the larger series. It felt like a glimpse into the bigger world, and I’m interested in seeing how this section of the story fits into the main storyline.
As for the audiobook performance, it was a mixed experience. Ava Lucas chapters were pleasant to listen to. Her character differentiation was clear, expressive, and immersive. Unfortunately, Liam DiCosimo’s chapters didn’t work as well for me when shifting vocal tones between characters. His narration clicked most when voicing Etan, the MMC, where I felt more connected to the performance, but outside of that it didn’t resonate as strongly.
Overall, this was a quick look into a series I’m now curious about, even if the plot itself in this novella didn’t surprise me.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review!
• Audiobook Narration Rating: 4.25 stars!!
• Book Content Rating: 3 stars!!
• Content Thought:
I went into this ALC fully aware that it’s a novella meant to be read after book four in the series, and I haven’t read any of the previous books just yet.
Surprisingly, I didn’t feel as lost as I thought I would be. The author did a good job including enough information so new readers can still follow along without constantly feeling like they’re missing critical information. That alone made this a better experience than I anticipated.
The story itself was decent, though very predictable. I could see most of the beats coming well before they happened, which took away some of the heart of the journey.
Even with that, it did make me curious about the larger series. It felt like a glimpse into the bigger world, and I’m interested in seeing how this section of the story fits into the main storyline.
As for the audiobook performance, it was a mixed experience. Ava Lucas chapters were pleasant to listen to. Her character differentiation was clear, expressive, and immersive. Unfortunately, Liam DiCosimo’s chapters didn’t work as well for me when shifting vocal tones between characters. His narration clicked most when voicing Etan, the MMC, where I felt more connected to the performance, but outside of that it didn’t resonate as strongly.
Overall, this was a quick look into a series I’m now curious about, even if the plot itself in this novella didn’t surprise me.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Did not finish
February 9, 2026When I requested this title on Netgalley, I didn’t realize it was a novella set in the Of Flesh & Bone series. I had previously DNF’d What Lies Beyond the Veil because the writing style wasn’t the right fit for me, but since I received an ALC for The Heir & the Spare, I wanted to give the world another try.
After listening to the first few chapters, I found that my feelings about the writing style remained the same. The first-person dual POV structure and character dynamics, particularly the tone of the main characters, just doesn’t really resonate with my personal reading preferences. Tbh, romantasy can be a bit hit or miss for me, and this one just wasn’t my cup of tea — but that doesn’t mean it won’t be someone else’s.
Readers who enjoy tropey, high-drama romantasy with bold personalities, in the same vein as Fourth Wing or Zodiac Academy, may connect with this more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper L. Woods, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to the ALC.
After listening to the first few chapters, I found that my feelings about the writing style remained the same. The first-person dual POV structure and character dynamics, particularly the tone of the main characters, just doesn’t really resonate with my personal reading preferences. Tbh, romantasy can be a bit hit or miss for me, and this one just wasn’t my cup of tea — but that doesn’t mean it won’t be someone else’s.
Readers who enjoy tropey, high-drama romantasy with bold personalities, in the same vein as Fourth Wing or Zodiac Academy, may connect with this more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper L. Woods, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to the ALC.
February 25, 2026
This novella was such a great way to get more insight into Fallon and Etan, and the perfect filler while we wait for the next book to come out. I absolutely loved their chemistry and banter; it felt natural, fun, and engaging the whole way through.
I did see the ending/cliffhanger coming, but honestly, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. I was still completely giddy reading it and can’t wait to see where the author takes us next!
I did see the ending/cliffhanger coming, but honestly, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. I was still completely giddy reading it and can’t wait to see where the author takes us next!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Full disclosure, I received an advanced reading copy from Tor Publishing Group | Bramble via NetGalley (Thank you so much!) but this is my honest review of this book. This review does not contain any spoilers.
I did not realize I needed that book so much. I loved it. The stories overlap What Lurks Between the Fates (book 3) and What Sleeps Within the Cove (book 4). It is a good thing because it had been so long since I've read book 3 that the details are a bit fuzzy. It was a great refresher and from new perspectives as well. Fallon and Etan are survivors and their story is perfect. Etan's POV are the best in my opinion. I just love him so much. I was so enjoying this book that I felt betrayed when it ended so fast, and I now have to wait months to know what happens next.
I did not realize I needed that book so much. I loved it. The stories overlap What Lurks Between the Fates (book 3) and What Sleeps Within the Cove (book 4). It is a good thing because it had been so long since I've read book 3 that the details are a bit fuzzy. It was a great refresher and from new perspectives as well. Fallon and Etan are survivors and their story is perfect. Etan's POV are the best in my opinion. I just love him so much. I was so enjoying this book that I felt betrayed when it ended so fast, and I now have to wait months to know what happens next.
March 17, 2026
I love Fallon ❤️❤️❤️
Read
February 17, 2026MAN this was sooooo good! Absolutely loved it! I want more.
March 3, 2026
4.25 ⭐️ This was a great quick novella! I love Etan and Fallon and can’t wait to see where their journey goes in book 5.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As noted, The Heir and the Spare is full of spoilers if you’re not caught up through What Sleeps Within the Cove. Please be mindful of that and set yourself up well to truly settle in and enjoy Fallon and Etan’s little adventure.
We’re taken slightly back at the start of this novella to lay some groundwork, giving us a glimpse into events that happened off page in What Sleeps Within the Cove. While I initially appreciated that added context, the transition into this new information didn’t feel quite as smooth as I would have liked. That said, this remains my only real qualm with the novella. 🥰
Keeping in mind that this is a novella, I quickly settled in and really enjoyed the banter and growing dynamic between our characters. Understanding that this is just the beginning — and that it’s intentionally laying groundwork before What Roams Beneath the Stars — made me even more excited for what’s to come.
Fallon is clearly figuring herself out here, and I loved how she’s portrayed as strong-willed without being rigid or incapable of growth. That balance felt refreshing and authentic. Etan, on the other hand, is navigating his own internal conflict as he wrestles with shifting loyalties. I enjoyed him as a character, even while feeling wary of him at times. I especially appreciated seeing him open himself up to listening and learning beyond the shield that Fallon — and some of our other main female characters — present. 🙃
I devoured this as an audiobook and really enjoyed the narrators. They continue to make the story feel immersive and alive, pulling me fully into the world.
Overall, this was such a solid and enjoyable beginning to a storyline I’m very eager to see develop. 🥰
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.
We’re taken slightly back at the start of this novella to lay some groundwork, giving us a glimpse into events that happened off page in What Sleeps Within the Cove. While I initially appreciated that added context, the transition into this new information didn’t feel quite as smooth as I would have liked. That said, this remains my only real qualm with the novella. 🥰
Keeping in mind that this is a novella, I quickly settled in and really enjoyed the banter and growing dynamic between our characters. Understanding that this is just the beginning — and that it’s intentionally laying groundwork before What Roams Beneath the Stars — made me even more excited for what’s to come.
Fallon is clearly figuring herself out here, and I loved how she’s portrayed as strong-willed without being rigid or incapable of growth. That balance felt refreshing and authentic. Etan, on the other hand, is navigating his own internal conflict as he wrestles with shifting loyalties. I enjoyed him as a character, even while feeling wary of him at times. I especially appreciated seeing him open himself up to listening and learning beyond the shield that Fallon — and some of our other main female characters — present. 🙃
I devoured this as an audiobook and really enjoyed the narrators. They continue to make the story feel immersive and alive, pulling me fully into the world.
Overall, this was such a solid and enjoyable beginning to a storyline I’m very eager to see develop. 🥰
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.
February 18, 2026
Rating: 5/5
I received an ALC for my honest opinion.
Even though this is a novella, it was absolutely everything. I loved getting to see what was really happening between Fallon and Etan during and after the events of What Sleeps Within the Cove. It added so much depth to their story and made the overall series feel even more layered.
Reading from Fallon’s POV was such a highlight. She is a strong MFC still trying to figure out where she fits within her life as a Fae of Alfheimr, all while navigating the dangerous dynamics of court especially when it comes to Queen Mab. As the long-lost Princess of Maeve, Fallon carries both power and vulnerability, and Queen Mab is well aware that Fallon is holding back her magic to avoid being controlled. Watching her try to stand in her strength while protecting herself made her journey compelling and emotional.
Getting Etan’s POV was equally satisfying. You finally get to see that he isn’t the villain he may have seemed to be, but someone worthy of trust. I loved watching him maneuver through court politics so effortlessly he plays the game flawlessly. And seeing him gain something he didn’t even realize he was missing added such a satisfying emotional layer to his arc.
This novella may be short, but it carries weight. It deepens relationships, builds tension, and sets up what’s to come beautifully. I cannot wait to see how these events shape the next book in the series.
I also have to mention the narrators, they did an incredible job bringing these characters to life. The emotion, the tension, the vulnerability they captured it all so well. It made the listening experience that much more immersive.
I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an ALC for my honest opinion.
Even though this is a novella, it was absolutely everything. I loved getting to see what was really happening between Fallon and Etan during and after the events of What Sleeps Within the Cove. It added so much depth to their story and made the overall series feel even more layered.
Reading from Fallon’s POV was such a highlight. She is a strong MFC still trying to figure out where she fits within her life as a Fae of Alfheimr, all while navigating the dangerous dynamics of court especially when it comes to Queen Mab. As the long-lost Princess of Maeve, Fallon carries both power and vulnerability, and Queen Mab is well aware that Fallon is holding back her magic to avoid being controlled. Watching her try to stand in her strength while protecting herself made her journey compelling and emotional.
Getting Etan’s POV was equally satisfying. You finally get to see that he isn’t the villain he may have seemed to be, but someone worthy of trust. I loved watching him maneuver through court politics so effortlessly he plays the game flawlessly. And seeing him gain something he didn’t even realize he was missing added such a satisfying emotional layer to his arc.
This novella may be short, but it carries weight. It deepens relationships, builds tension, and sets up what’s to come beautifully. I cannot wait to see how these events shape the next book in the series.
I also have to mention the narrators, they did an incredible job bringing these characters to life. The emotion, the tension, the vulnerability they captured it all so well. It made the listening experience that much more immersive.
I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book.
February 3, 2026
I am SO HAPPY to be back in the Of Flesh and Bone world with new faces.
Returning narrators Ava Lucas and Liam DiCosimo really made it feel like returning home. It’s dual narration, but they both absolutely rocked their parts. Ava does Fallon so well. Some of the vocal choices she made had a massive impact on how I reacted to some scenes. She picked up Fallon’s vulnerability and gave it so much strength, it made a huge difference. Liam is equally great at playing Etan. His voice felt strong and solid while also throwing in some of the cockiness that really helped solidify Etan as a character. They both do the opposite gender’s parts so well. There were times where we’d switch from Ava to Liam narrating and I couldn’t tell that someone else was reading for different characters. They did a great job matching the choices the other narrator made.
Getting an outside perspective on some things that happened in the last book was awesome. I loved seeing how Fallon experiences the world compared to how Estrella did. This book solidified my hated for Mab now that we’ve seen how she treats my girl Fallon. I liked how we got more insight into court politics through Etan. It really helped with the overall world building.
Fallon and Etan have chemistryyyyyyyyyyy. Even if they don’t want to outright admit it. I could physically feel the tension between them through the audiobook. The banter between them was so much fun. A little “I hate you” with a dash of “ we should be together” is always a fun game. It is the slowest of slow burns but it pays off big time. The ending though?? Ma’am. Illegal. I loved it so much and the twist was done perfectly.
Returning narrators Ava Lucas and Liam DiCosimo really made it feel like returning home. It’s dual narration, but they both absolutely rocked their parts. Ava does Fallon so well. Some of the vocal choices she made had a massive impact on how I reacted to some scenes. She picked up Fallon’s vulnerability and gave it so much strength, it made a huge difference. Liam is equally great at playing Etan. His voice felt strong and solid while also throwing in some of the cockiness that really helped solidify Etan as a character. They both do the opposite gender’s parts so well. There were times where we’d switch from Ava to Liam narrating and I couldn’t tell that someone else was reading for different characters. They did a great job matching the choices the other narrator made.
Getting an outside perspective on some things that happened in the last book was awesome. I loved seeing how Fallon experiences the world compared to how Estrella did. This book solidified my hated for Mab now that we’ve seen how she treats my girl Fallon. I liked how we got more insight into court politics through Etan. It really helped with the overall world building.
Fallon and Etan have chemistryyyyyyyyyyy. Even if they don’t want to outright admit it. I could physically feel the tension between them through the audiobook. The banter between them was so much fun. A little “I hate you” with a dash of “ we should be together” is always a fun game. It is the slowest of slow burns but it pays off big time. The ending though?? Ma’am. Illegal. I loved it so much and the twist was done perfectly.
December 6, 2025
🌑 THE HEIR & THE SPARE by Harper L. Woods
A Flesh & Bone novella • Read ONLY after What Sleeps Within the Cove
Harper L. Woods once again said “pain, sisterhood, prophecy, betrayal?” and delivered it with haunting beauty.
This novella feels like stepping back into the Flesh & Bone world only to have your heart reshaped all over again.
This story follows a heroine torn between destiny and desire, power and vulnerability, loyalty and survival.
Her bond with Estrella? Gut-wrenching and gorgeous. A sisterhood reforged after lifetimes apart… and weaponized by Mab in the cruelest of ways.
If you love:
🌙 Court politics dripping with danger
🔥 Marriages that feel like cages
🖤 Witchcraft, ancient power, and morally gray choices
💀 The God of the Dead making everything complicated
💔 That particular Harper Woods brand of “I’m not okay but I want more”
…you’re going to devour this.
The journey into the Summer Court, the tension between fate and freedom, the emotional pull of a heroine standing on the edge of two worlds? Chef’s kiss.
This novella may be short, but the impact? Massive.
Consider it the bridge your heart wasn’t ready for but absolutely needed before we step into What Roams Beneath the Stars.
Read this ONLY if you’re fully caught up.
Trust me. The spoilers are everywhere. And the pain is delicious.
#TheHeirAndTheSpare #HarperLWoods #OfFleshAndBone #RomantasyReads #DarkFantasyRomance #LunarWitches #GodOfTheDead #NovellaObsessed #BrambleBooks #FleshAndBoneSeries #FantasyBookstagram #Tor
A Flesh & Bone novella • Read ONLY after What Sleeps Within the Cove
Harper L. Woods once again said “pain, sisterhood, prophecy, betrayal?” and delivered it with haunting beauty.
This novella feels like stepping back into the Flesh & Bone world only to have your heart reshaped all over again.
This story follows a heroine torn between destiny and desire, power and vulnerability, loyalty and survival.
Her bond with Estrella? Gut-wrenching and gorgeous. A sisterhood reforged after lifetimes apart… and weaponized by Mab in the cruelest of ways.
If you love:
🌙 Court politics dripping with danger
🔥 Marriages that feel like cages
🖤 Witchcraft, ancient power, and morally gray choices
💀 The God of the Dead making everything complicated
💔 That particular Harper Woods brand of “I’m not okay but I want more”
…you’re going to devour this.
The journey into the Summer Court, the tension between fate and freedom, the emotional pull of a heroine standing on the edge of two worlds? Chef’s kiss.
This novella may be short, but the impact? Massive.
Consider it the bridge your heart wasn’t ready for but absolutely needed before we step into What Roams Beneath the Stars.
Read this ONLY if you’re fully caught up.
Trust me. The spoilers are everywhere. And the pain is delicious.
#TheHeirAndTheSpare #HarperLWoods #OfFleshAndBone #RomantasyReads #DarkFantasyRomance #LunarWitches #GodOfTheDead #NovellaObsessed #BrambleBooks #FleshAndBoneSeries #FantasyBookstagram #Tor
December 20, 2025
I give this (ARC) novella 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. I think this story is measurably better than what is happening in the main story and I very much appreciate getting a new POV that is not entirely redundant like Estrella and Caldris. As with the other works in this series, I find the world-building interesting (though perhaps the inclusion of elements from every major world mythology is a bit unnecessary), the plot potential substantial, and the antagonist truly evil. The characters and dialogue are where the writing suffers. The writing for Fallon is more engaging than what we have seen recently for Estrella, which I appreciate, but overall she feels fairly flat. I like that she has more emotions than anger (Estrella) and actually expresses some vulnerability, but I wish there was more. Etan is done a bit better, particularly when compared to Caldris. I think their relationship development has the potential for more than just lust and single-minded “my mate” content, which is needed.
The novella doesn’t do much to move the overall plot forward, which is expected in a novella, but does introduce us to new characters and setting that I think will only benefit book 5. I am interested to see more about the magic, culture and political dynamics of the Summer Court that we only got a peek of in the novella. I don’t think it could stand much on its own, but I also don’t think that was the author’s intention. Overall, I think the novella is a nice addition for those that are planning to read the entire series and a bit refreshing following book 4.
The novella doesn’t do much to move the overall plot forward, which is expected in a novella, but does introduce us to new characters and setting that I think will only benefit book 5. I am interested to see more about the magic, culture and political dynamics of the Summer Court that we only got a peek of in the novella. I don’t think it could stand much on its own, but I also don’t think that was the author’s intention. Overall, I think the novella is a nice addition for those that are planning to read the entire series and a bit refreshing following book 4.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⚠️ WARNING: Spoilers ahead for the first 4 books of the Flesh & Bone series!
First off, a huge thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for the ARC! I am always ready to jump back into this world, and getting Fallon and Etan's POV was something I was really looking forward to.
The Heir and The Spare gives us the perspective of Fallon (Maeve), the lost princess of the Shadow Court, and Etan, the Summer Fae betrothed to her. I definitely liked getting this new perspective, and the interactions within this new romance were a highlight for me. The chemistry is there, and it was refreshing to step away from the main storyline for a bit.
That said, a large portion of this novella closely follows events that we have already read in What Sleeps Within the Cove just from a different angle. While I enjoyed the new voice, I wish it focused more on the actual journey taken to the Summer Court rather than retelling past events.
The ending also left me wanting more for Fallon and Etan's relationship. It stops right as they discover they are mates, and I really felt like we needed a bit more time to explore that dynamic before closing the book. However, with this being a novella and not a full length novel, it makes sense for it to have ended there. The introduction of these new viewpoints makes me hopeful that the next book, What Roams Beneath the Stars, will include more multi POV storytelling though!
Final Thoughts: A solid addition to the series that sets up exciting potential for the future!
First off, a huge thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for the ARC! I am always ready to jump back into this world, and getting Fallon and Etan's POV was something I was really looking forward to.
The Heir and The Spare gives us the perspective of Fallon (Maeve), the lost princess of the Shadow Court, and Etan, the Summer Fae betrothed to her. I definitely liked getting this new perspective, and the interactions within this new romance were a highlight for me. The chemistry is there, and it was refreshing to step away from the main storyline for a bit.
That said, a large portion of this novella closely follows events that we have already read in What Sleeps Within the Cove just from a different angle. While I enjoyed the new voice, I wish it focused more on the actual journey taken to the Summer Court rather than retelling past events.
The ending also left me wanting more for Fallon and Etan's relationship. It stops right as they discover they are mates, and I really felt like we needed a bit more time to explore that dynamic before closing the book. However, with this being a novella and not a full length novel, it makes sense for it to have ended there. The introduction of these new viewpoints makes me hopeful that the next book, What Roams Beneath the Stars, will include more multi POV storytelling though!
Final Thoughts: A solid addition to the series that sets up exciting potential for the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Alright so I didn't realize this was a 4.5 Novella and admittedly I haven't read the first 4 books.... whoops. That being said, I really didn't feel like I was missing much context while listening to this.
Etan is a dumb name and the pronunciation A - tan is even dumber. Now that I got that out of the way.
"Word vomit" really? Not only used in a non-modern or futuristic setting but used more than once? Straight to jail. Then her profanity used throughout the book was so unimaginative and immediately pulled me out, it felt too modern day. This wasn't even remotely dark romance FYI and the "romance" aspect of it felt wanting.
My reading buddies and I read Coven and some of them felt like it was written by chatgpt....and honestly I'm starting to think that's the case or Harper L. Woods is just pushing out these mediocre books without really sitting with them. She would hop around from using male and female (which I've gotten used to in Fae books) and then switch to man and woman, decidedly human sexes.
My favorite part of this, which was COMPLETELY predictable was how feral Etan was for Fallon and he turned out to be her mate. Obviously. I might be done giving Harper's books a chance.
The narrators were fine, the man less so than the woman. He wasn't particularly gifted at changing his voice for other characters and at times it sounded silly. But cadence, tone, and such were fine.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest reviews.
Etan is a dumb name and the pronunciation A - tan is even dumber. Now that I got that out of the way.
"Word vomit" really? Not only used in a non-modern or futuristic setting but used more than once? Straight to jail. Then her profanity used throughout the book was so unimaginative and immediately pulled me out, it felt too modern day. This wasn't even remotely dark romance FYI and the "romance" aspect of it felt wanting.
My reading buddies and I read Coven and some of them felt like it was written by chatgpt....and honestly I'm starting to think that's the case or Harper L. Woods is just pushing out these mediocre books without really sitting with them. She would hop around from using male and female (which I've gotten used to in Fae books) and then switch to man and woman, decidedly human sexes.
My favorite part of this, which was COMPLETELY predictable was how feral Etan was for Fallon and he turned out to be her mate. Obviously. I might be done giving Harper's books a chance.
The narrators were fine, the man less so than the woman. He wasn't particularly gifted at changing his voice for other characters and at times it sounded silly. But cadence, tone, and such were fine.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest reviews.
January 2, 2026
Fallon has lived the majority of her life in the tunnels of the Hollow Mountains, kept hidden by the Lunar Witch Imelda. Until recently, no one had any idea that she was really Maeve, Queen Mab’s long lost daughter, as both and Estrella had been taken by the Lunar Coven and hidden away for several lifetimes, with no one knowing which of the girls was the true heir to the throne. Now forced to endure torture at the hands of her newfound mother for refusing to use magic, she is told that she will be sent to the Summer Court, to be wed to one of Mab’s allies.
Etan is Rheagan’s second in command of the Summer Court, but never had any plan or desire to rule, or to find his mate for that matter. Unable to stand by and watch Mab continue to torture Fallon, he manipulates her into suggesting a marriage between the two of them, knowing he could keep her safer by taking her away from the Winter Court. What he never expected was how far gone Mab was from the girl he grew up with, and when she killed Rheagan, her own brother, he finds himself having to make the journey back to the Summer Court with his bethrothed, preparing both for their wedding, and coronation.
I received an early copy of this novella from Netgalley and really enjoyed it. It does reveal a lot of spoilers so has to be read after the first 4 books in the Of Flesh & Bone series. I loved watching Fallon experience much of the world for the first time, having spent most of her life underground, and Etan’s pleasure at sharing some aspects of his world with her was palpable. The chemistry between them was evident, no matter how much she wanted to resist, and when they finally ignited, it was pure magic.
Etan is Rheagan’s second in command of the Summer Court, but never had any plan or desire to rule, or to find his mate for that matter. Unable to stand by and watch Mab continue to torture Fallon, he manipulates her into suggesting a marriage between the two of them, knowing he could keep her safer by taking her away from the Winter Court. What he never expected was how far gone Mab was from the girl he grew up with, and when she killed Rheagan, her own brother, he finds himself having to make the journey back to the Summer Court with his bethrothed, preparing both for their wedding, and coronation.
I received an early copy of this novella from Netgalley and really enjoyed it. It does reveal a lot of spoilers so has to be read after the first 4 books in the Of Flesh & Bone series. I loved watching Fallon experience much of the world for the first time, having spent most of her life underground, and Etan’s pleasure at sharing some aspects of his world with her was palpable. The chemistry between them was evident, no matter how much she wanted to resist, and when they finally ignited, it was pure magic.
February 8, 2026
The narrators are absolutely fantastic. The audio is in dual narration and it is very well done. If you have listened to the other books of the series, it is the same narrators.
The story is occurring at the same time as the previous book in the series. But it focuses on Fallon and Etan. There is not a huge overlap in the storyline, but there are moments where we are getting events we’ve already read from a different point of view.
I could not put this book down. It is a short novella that you’ll dive into and be done before you know it. I think the ending was supposed to be a big reveal, but I was not surprised by it.
I hate Etan. I felt like he is selfish and self-absorbed and uses the guise of doing things for his court in order to do what he really wants. It drives me nuts that Fallon just falls for it. She goes from angry to getting over it without any conversation or thought. These uncomfortable conversations are necessary. This is definitely a romance book with a fantasy backdrop. Etan could have been an amazing complex, well developed character, and even with his point of view, I thought he felt inauthentic. He did not grow on me throughout the book. I love Fallon, but her ability to go from hating him to wanting to jump him without any change or conversation or anything more than just a blink was disheartening. The story feels under developed.
That being said this is a total vibes read. It’s a good time. Even though I hated Etan I really enjoyed reading about him and their journey. I do wonder if the next book of the series will be four person point of view based on where the story left off.
Read this book if you like a romance book with some fantasy vibes where you’re OK with plot holes
If you like Safie Kincaid’s Forged in Blood, you will probably like this series, though this is not why choose.
The story is occurring at the same time as the previous book in the series. But it focuses on Fallon and Etan. There is not a huge overlap in the storyline, but there are moments where we are getting events we’ve already read from a different point of view.
I could not put this book down. It is a short novella that you’ll dive into and be done before you know it. I think the ending was supposed to be a big reveal, but I was not surprised by it.
I hate Etan. I felt like he is selfish and self-absorbed and uses the guise of doing things for his court in order to do what he really wants. It drives me nuts that Fallon just falls for it. She goes from angry to getting over it without any conversation or thought. These uncomfortable conversations are necessary. This is definitely a romance book with a fantasy backdrop. Etan could have been an amazing complex, well developed character, and even with his point of view, I thought he felt inauthentic. He did not grow on me throughout the book. I love Fallon, but her ability to go from hating him to wanting to jump him without any change or conversation or anything more than just a blink was disheartening. The story feels under developed.
That being said this is a total vibes read. It’s a good time. Even though I hated Etan I really enjoyed reading about him and their journey. I do wonder if the next book of the series will be four person point of view based on where the story left off.
Read this book if you like a romance book with some fantasy vibes where you’re OK with plot holes
If you like Safie Kincaid’s Forged in Blood, you will probably like this series, though this is not why choose.
February 11, 2026
Confession time: I have not read any of the other books in this series. Guess what? Listening to this audiobook moved the earlier books way up on my TBR because it was that good. I may not have all the backstory, but this story gave me a strong sense of the world and its characters, making me realize what I have been missing by not starting the series sooner.
Fallon, also known as Maeve, and Eton are the two characters we get POVs for in this novella, and from the start there is palpable chemistry between them. I found both characters approachable, and their interactions with each other and with others felt natural and easy to follow, even with the limited backstory I had to rely on. There were also enough context clues to help me understand the world without overwhelming me with a heavy info dump.
This novella struck a great balance between offering a satisfying story of its own and leaving me wanting more. I am excited to see what this series is like in a full-length novel, and I am especially intrigued to find out where Fallon and Eton’s story leads. I am also curious about what happens to Estrella after she parts ways with Fallon. Overall, this was an engaging introduction to a series I can no longer ignore, and I am very much looking forward to diving into the earlier books.
Thank you to Harper L. Woods, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
Fallon, also known as Maeve, and Eton are the two characters we get POVs for in this novella, and from the start there is palpable chemistry between them. I found both characters approachable, and their interactions with each other and with others felt natural and easy to follow, even with the limited backstory I had to rely on. There were also enough context clues to help me understand the world without overwhelming me with a heavy info dump.
This novella struck a great balance between offering a satisfying story of its own and leaving me wanting more. I am excited to see what this series is like in a full-length novel, and I am especially intrigued to find out where Fallon and Eton’s story leads. I am also curious about what happens to Estrella after she parts ways with Fallon. Overall, this was an engaging introduction to a series I can no longer ignore, and I am very much looking forward to diving into the earlier books.
Thank you to Harper L. Woods, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
March 15, 2026
3.5/5 stars for me. I really appreciated seeing more of Fallon and Etan’s perspectives as a whole but I felt this novella was unnecessary for the series.
The timeline does a lot of overlap with What Sleeps Within the Cove and I guess I felt these chapters could have easily been added into the “main” books in the series.
I also understand I am inherently biased as it is difficult for me to flop back and forth in a timeline when I’m reading a series. In fact if - for example - a series has a prequel, I will read the prequel First in the series so I can understand the timeline, even if it was published later and I just haven’t gotten around to reading anything else in the series yet.
Overall plot didn’t really move here, which is normal for a novella, but I’m starting to feel the series dragging a bit as whole and I am ready to see more plot and start wrapping up where this series is going. Although, this is probably the best character development and character insight we’ve gotten to see since book 1- What Lies Beyond the Veil. Which was great! I want more of That! Especially after the drag that was the repetitive and borderline boring trials of book 4, the lack of character building or plot movement in books 2 and 3 combined, along with whichever book is was where they basically walked in a giant circle and nothing else progressed.
Overall, this particular instillation of the series was really fun and entertaining, just not Needed as a novella.
The timeline does a lot of overlap with What Sleeps Within the Cove and I guess I felt these chapters could have easily been added into the “main” books in the series.
I also understand I am inherently biased as it is difficult for me to flop back and forth in a timeline when I’m reading a series. In fact if - for example - a series has a prequel, I will read the prequel First in the series so I can understand the timeline, even if it was published later and I just haven’t gotten around to reading anything else in the series yet.
Overall plot didn’t really move here, which is normal for a novella, but I’m starting to feel the series dragging a bit as whole and I am ready to see more plot and start wrapping up where this series is going. Although, this is probably the best character development and character insight we’ve gotten to see since book 1- What Lies Beyond the Veil. Which was great! I want more of That! Especially after the drag that was the repetitive and borderline boring trials of book 4, the lack of character building or plot movement in books 2 and 3 combined, along with whichever book is was where they basically walked in a giant circle and nothing else progressed.
Overall, this particular instillation of the series was really fun and entertaining, just not Needed as a novella.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was everything I needed it to be! 4.5 rounding it up to 5 on here!
I fell in love with this series back in early 2024 and was one of the ones waiting FOREVER for What Sleeps Within the Cove due to it being picked up for trad publishing. And while I think What Sleeps Within the Cove was absolutely necessary to propel the story line forward, I’ll admit I was missing Alfheimr and the original setting a little.
This book takes place right before and right after the ending of What Lurks Between the Fates and follows Fallon and Summer Court fae, Eton. To protect Fallon, Eton manipulates Mab into giving Fallon to him to marry.
Fallon is sassy and does not want anything to do with marriage or anyone telling her what to do. Eton and Fallen agree to an alliance once they truly get to know each other and start to trust each other. But the Gods and fate has other plans.
Like I said, this book was everything I needed. I loved being back in Alfheimr and Harper L Woods does such a good job writing court politics. This was a short novella that was perfect to hold you over until What Roams Beneath the Stars is released. This books truly made me fall back in love with this series.
Thank you Netgally, Tor Publishing Group | Bramble, and Harper L Woods for the eARC. As always, I highly appreciate it!
I fell in love with this series back in early 2024 and was one of the ones waiting FOREVER for What Sleeps Within the Cove due to it being picked up for trad publishing. And while I think What Sleeps Within the Cove was absolutely necessary to propel the story line forward, I’ll admit I was missing Alfheimr and the original setting a little.
This book takes place right before and right after the ending of What Lurks Between the Fates and follows Fallon and Summer Court fae, Eton. To protect Fallon, Eton manipulates Mab into giving Fallon to him to marry.
Fallon is sassy and does not want anything to do with marriage or anyone telling her what to do. Eton and Fallen agree to an alliance once they truly get to know each other and start to trust each other. But the Gods and fate has other plans.
Like I said, this book was everything I needed. I loved being back in Alfheimr and Harper L Woods does such a good job writing court politics. This was a short novella that was perfect to hold you over until What Roams Beneath the Stars is released. This books truly made me fall back in love with this series.
Thank you Netgally, Tor Publishing Group | Bramble, and Harper L Woods for the eARC. As always, I highly appreciate it!
February 1, 2026
This is a novella that takes place within the Of Flesh and Bones Series and should be read after What Lurks Between the Fates as it contains spoilers.
The Heir and the Spare novella follows Fallon, the long lost Princess Maeve, on a discovery of not only what her future holds now that she is in Queen Mabs grasps but who she truly can become now that she is no longer living a hidden life. I absolutely loved Fallon when we meet her in the previous books and wanted to know more about her and what kind of life she lived hidden away. Although we only got glimpses of it, I know Fallon is destined for so much more. Getting to read from Fallon and Etans POV of events that happened in What Lurks Between the Fates, was like an out of body experience to relive those moments.
I knew from the previous book that Etan was putting on a front for Mab and that he wasn’t the bad guy. He may have manipulated to make Fallon his wife but it was for good reasons that come to light in this book. The immediate connection that Etan and Fallon couldn’t deny was fun to read especially since the last thing Fallon wanted was to be trapped again. The journey to the Summer court turned out to be more revealing than they anticipated and I loved the outcome. I can’t wait for more of Etan and Fallon in the next book!
The Heir and the Spare novella follows Fallon, the long lost Princess Maeve, on a discovery of not only what her future holds now that she is in Queen Mabs grasps but who she truly can become now that she is no longer living a hidden life. I absolutely loved Fallon when we meet her in the previous books and wanted to know more about her and what kind of life she lived hidden away. Although we only got glimpses of it, I know Fallon is destined for so much more. Getting to read from Fallon and Etans POV of events that happened in What Lurks Between the Fates, was like an out of body experience to relive those moments.
I knew from the previous book that Etan was putting on a front for Mab and that he wasn’t the bad guy. He may have manipulated to make Fallon his wife but it was for good reasons that come to light in this book. The immediate connection that Etan and Fallon couldn’t deny was fun to read especially since the last thing Fallon wanted was to be trapped again. The journey to the Summer court turned out to be more revealing than they anticipated and I loved the outcome. I can’t wait for more of Etan and Fallon in the next book!
February 12, 2026
4🌟
Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for an ALC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Ideally, you’ll go into this book having read the four before it. However, since I was invited to read this novella, I opted to just go for it and see how it went. I can confidently say, it went very well!
Understandably, we’re dropped right in the middle of the story as it’s happening, but this specific plot was not hard to pick up on at all. I felt that I was still able to get enough background information to understand how we got to the point this story starts.
Though the story had to be a faster pace, I still felt it developed well and still told a story rather than just information dump the entire time. I did feel the beginning to get Fallon and Etan together was a little too easy, so to speak. There was no suspicion, no difficult points convincing Mab, nothing of that nature, so I do wish from that point it might have been a little more complex. But again, not necessarily a bad thing.
I enjoyed watching Fallon lower her guard while Etan tried to win her over. Getting both of their POV’s helped me get to know their characters easily as well. Both narrators did a great job bringing these characters to life as well. I will say, this novella made me want to pick up the rest of the series now!
Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for an ALC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Ideally, you’ll go into this book having read the four before it. However, since I was invited to read this novella, I opted to just go for it and see how it went. I can confidently say, it went very well!
Understandably, we’re dropped right in the middle of the story as it’s happening, but this specific plot was not hard to pick up on at all. I felt that I was still able to get enough background information to understand how we got to the point this story starts.
Though the story had to be a faster pace, I still felt it developed well and still told a story rather than just information dump the entire time. I did feel the beginning to get Fallon and Etan together was a little too easy, so to speak. There was no suspicion, no difficult points convincing Mab, nothing of that nature, so I do wish from that point it might have been a little more complex. But again, not necessarily a bad thing.
I enjoyed watching Fallon lower her guard while Etan tried to win her over. Getting both of their POV’s helped me get to know their characters easily as well. Both narrators did a great job bringing these characters to life as well. I will say, this novella made me want to pick up the rest of the series now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2026
I loved how The Heir and the Spare overlaps with What Lurks Between the Fates and What Sleeps Within the Cove. It felt like the perfect little refresher, but from totally new angles. Definitely don’t pick this up unless you’re caught up through What Sleeps Within the Cove though, it has major spoilers.
What really hooked me was how clearly this novella is setting the stage for What Roams Beneath the Stars. It’s laying groundwork in a way that made me even more excited for what’s coming. Fallon especially stood out to me here, she’s stubborn, soft, growing, and figuring herself out without losing her fire. I loved her even more after this.
Etan… listen. I like him. I also side-eye him. He’s a mess of loyalty, guilt, and feelings he refuses to name, and watching him unravel a bit was honestly fascinating. His POV also gave me a better look at the court politics, which made the world feel richer. And seeing certain moments from the last book through different eyes? So good. Also, Mab? I’m done. Not that I liked her before but fully anti-Mab now.
The chemistry between Fallon and Etan is ridiculous. They can deny it all they want, but the tension is loud. Their banter had me grinning, and the slow burn is painfully slow, but the payoff is worth it. That ending should be illegal. I’m still recovering.
What really hooked me was how clearly this novella is setting the stage for What Roams Beneath the Stars. It’s laying groundwork in a way that made me even more excited for what’s coming. Fallon especially stood out to me here, she’s stubborn, soft, growing, and figuring herself out without losing her fire. I loved her even more after this.
Etan… listen. I like him. I also side-eye him. He’s a mess of loyalty, guilt, and feelings he refuses to name, and watching him unravel a bit was honestly fascinating. His POV also gave me a better look at the court politics, which made the world feel richer. And seeing certain moments from the last book through different eyes? So good. Also, Mab? I’m done. Not that I liked her before but fully anti-Mab now.
The chemistry between Fallon and Etan is ridiculous. They can deny it all they want, but the tension is loud. Their banter had me grinning, and the slow burn is painfully slow, but the payoff is worth it. That ending should be illegal. I’m still recovering.
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